Green Building

MaGrann Associates' latest project is definitely more than meets the eye. Situated on a serene, wooded lakefront site, this low country-style home is beautiful inside and out. What some may find surprising, however, is how it’s being described as green---very, very green.

But, green---in this case---doesn’t describe the color of the home. "We're talking about 'Building Green,'" says Mark MaGrann, President of the Moorestown, NJ-based MaGrann Associates. "Building Green aims to preserve the natural environment with minimal disturbance to the land. Equally important is the goal of minimizing material waste during construction, utilizing resource-friendly materials, and maximizing energy efficiency."

The end result is a home that reduces the negative impact on the environment, is healthier in which to live, and saves money through superior energy efficiency---and all without sacrificing aesthetics or comfort.

"Energy efficiency and healthy house concepts are a big part of Building Green and are a natural extension of MaGrann Associates, which specializes in energy-related consulting and engineering," says MaGrann. "As a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), our firm makes it a priority to stay on the forefront of the latest national trends in Building Green."

MaGrann has been in the lead---and perhaps ahead of his time---since the inception of his energy consulting firm in the early 1980s when even energy-efficient construction was considered somewhat idealistic. However, the increasing public awareness of natural resource conservation and a growing demand for environmentally sound policies and products have given rise to various environmentally responsible practices in new construction. Over the past decade, the Building Green philosophy has evolved to encompass a broad range of Green and Sustainable construction techniques and has steadily progressed from the obscurity of the building industry's "grass roots" to the ranks of the mainstream.

"The idea behind the construction of MaGrann Associates Demonstration House was to apply the Building Green concept from beginning to end," explains MaGrann. "We've researched all the possibilities and compared the house to other Green programs throughout the country attempting to learn as much as possible. We can only hope that our Demonstration House will become a model on which other Built Green homes and statewide Built Green programs are based."

The development of a unique New Jersey program for Building Green is a lofty goal that MaGrann has pursued for the last five years. The report on MaGrann Associates' Demonstration House was one of the first Green Built case studies submitted to the New Jersey Green Homes Office of the Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA). A state agency that promotes Building Green practices in the Garden State, the NJDCA is currently in the process of developing a Green Home Construction Standard that will be unique to New Jersey.

Many features that will probably be included in the statewide standard are also ones that MaGrann has incorporated into his Demo House. Construction and finish materials include cementitious siding and trim, recycled plastic decking, low-water-use plumbing fixtures, recycled carpet and pad, molded cementitious "stone," low- and no- VOC paints and adhesives, and finger-jointed studding and trim, to name a few items.

The house itself boasts an Energy Star rating (91.6 points on the 100 point HERS scale) and includes R11 basement walls, a geothermal heating system, R38/R30 ceilings, Energy Star appliances, a high-efficiency hot water system, and Energy Star ventilation systems and thermostats.

While construction costs are higher than a conventionally built home by about nine percent, the Demo Home is a full 60 percent more energy-efficient than New Jersey’s sub-code requires. Over time, the home will return the original building costs---and more---in the significant savings from its energy efficiency.

Acting as a project construction manager for the Demo Home was MaGrann Associates' affiliate, MaGrann Construction Services. Boasting an impressive professional portfolio of custom homes, residential communities and commercial venues, MaGrann Construction Services has also built a strong reputation in remodeling existing homes.

"One of the aspects of which I'm most proud is to be able to demonstrate that we can incorporate all the Green Built, earth-friendly features without sacrificing beauty," says MaGrann. The house itself is a one-and-a-half story, 3,500-square-foot residence based on traditional home styles common to the Carolinas. A full porch welcomes visitors into the comfortable and spacious home that includes a full basement and two-car garage.

The home's site is characterized by runoff retention areas and barriers that include a "rain garden" and earth berms. There are protected wetlands on site, as well as plantings that are drought resistant and indigenous to the New Jersey Pinelands.

"Hopefully, the Demonstration House is just a beginning point," says MaGrann. He adds that work has already begun on several additional Building Green projects and many others are sure to follow. Thanks to the innovative thinking of MaGrann Associates, the future of Building Green in the Garden State looks green indeed.